Methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communities for communication services

ABSTRACT

Example methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communities for communication services are disclosed. An example method comprises configuring a first remote network demarcation associated with a first loop to a loop-back state, interrogating the first loop to determine a first parameter representative of the first loop, configuring a second remote network demarcation associated with a second loop to the loop-back state, interrogating the second loop to determine a second parameter representative of the second loop, and compiling a report based on the first and second parameters, the report containing a value that represents a degree to which a communication service can be provided to a user community associated with the first and second loops.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/334,169, filed Dec. 12, 2008, entitled “Methods andApparatus to Pre-Qualify User Communities for Communication Services,”which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to user communities and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communitiesfor communication services.

BACKGROUND

Access networks and/or systems using digital subscriber line (DSL)technologies are commonly utilized to provide communication services tocustomer premises. DSL technologies enable service providers to utilizetelephone lines to connect customers to, for example, a high data-ratebroadband Internet network, a broadband service and/or broadbandcontent. An example telephone line uses twisted-pair copper wire toprovide Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) services.

A communication company and/or service provider may utilize a pluralityof DSL modems implemented by a DSL access multiplexer (DSLAM) and/or avideo ready access device (VRAD) at a central office (CO), a remoteterminal (RT) or a serving area interface (SAI) to provide DSLcommunication services to a plurality of customer-premises DSL modemslocated at respective customer premises. In general, a DSLAM/VRADreceives broadband service content for a subscriber from, for example, abackbone server. A CO DSL modem at the DSLAM/VRAD forms from the contenta downstream DSL signal to be transmitted to a customer-premises DSLmodem via a telephone line that electrically couples the CO DSL modem atthe SAI, RT or CO to the customer-premises DSL modem. Likewise, the CODSL modem receives an upstream DSL signal from the customer-premises DSLmodem via the corresponding subscriber's telephone line, and theDSLAM/VRAD provides the data received via the upstream DSL signal to thebackbone server. One or more characteristics of the subscriber'stelephone line determine what type(s) and/or speed(s) of DSL servicescan be supported by the subscriber's telephone line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example access networkconstructed in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example pre-qualification test report that may begenerated by the example pre-qualification server of the FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example customer premises evaluation report thatmay be generated by the example pre-qualification server of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example market analysis report that may begenerated by the example pre-qualification server of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts representative of example processes thatmay be carried out to implement the example pre-qualification server ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is flowchart representative of an example process that may becarried out to implement the example evaluation software of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is flowchart representative of an example process that may becarried out by a user to test their subscriber loop for an emergingservice.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of an example processor platform thatmay be used and/or programmed to carry out the example process of FIGS.5-7, and/or to implement any or all of the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example methods and apparatus to pre-qualify user communities forcommunication services are disclosed. A disclosed example methodincludes configuring a first remote network demarcation associated witha first loop to a loop-back state, interrogating the first loop todetermine a first parameter representative of the first loop,configuring a second remote network demarcation associated with a secondloop to the loop-back state, interrogating the second loop to determinea second parameter representative of the second loop, and compiling areport based on the first and second parameters, the report containing avalue that represents a degree to which a communication service can beprovided to a user community associated with the first and second loops.

A disclosed example system includes a first customer premises associatedwith a first subscriber line and having a first demarcation point, asecond customer premises associated with a second subscriber line andhaving a second demarcation point, a first test module to interrogatethe first subscriber line to determine a first parameter representativeof the first subscriber line, a second test module to interrogate thesecond subscriber line to determine a second parameter representative ofthe second subscriber line, and a pre-qualification server. Thepre-qualification server to configure the first network demarcationpoint associated with the first subscriber line to a loop-back state,configure the second network demarcation point associated with thesecond subscriber line to the loop-back state, and generate a reportbased on the first and second parameters, the report containing a valuethat represents a degree to which a communication service can beprovided to a user community associated with the first and secondsubscriber lines.

Another disclosed example method includes installing evaluation softwareon a computer communicatively coupled to a customer-premises equipment(CPE) modem, the evaluation software to configure the CPE modem to atest state, interacting with the CPE modem while in the test state tointerrogate a wire associated with the first CPE modem to determine afirst parameter representative of the wire, and generating a reportbased on the first parameter, the report containing a value thatrepresents a degree to which a communication service can be provided toa user community associated with the wire.

Yet another disclosed example method includes prompting a user forpermission to test whether a wire associated with the user is capable tosupport a communication service, configuring a CPE modem associated withthe user to a test state when the permission is received, wherein theCPE modem while in the test state is to test the wire for thecommunication service, presenting a first value representative of aresult of the test to the user, and prompting the user to provide asecond value representative of an interest in the communication service.

In the interest of brevity and clarity, throughout the followingdisclosure references will be made to an example access network 100 ofFIG. 1. However, the methods and apparatus described herein topre-qualify user communities for communication services are applicableto other types of access networks and/or communication systemsconstructed using other network technologies, topologies and/orprotocols. Other example systems include, but are not limited to, thoseassociated with public switched telephone network (PSTN) systems, publicland mobile network (PLMN) systems (e.g., cellular), wirelessdistribution systems, wired or cable distribution systems, coaxial cabledistribution systems, Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency(VHF) radio frequency systems, satellite or other extra-terrestrialsystems, cellular distribution systems, power-line broadcast systems,fiber optic networks, passive optical network (PON) systems, and/or anycombination and/or hybrid of these devices, systems and/or networks.

FIG. 1 illustrates the example access network 100. The example accessnetwork 100 of FIG. 1 includes any number and/or type(s) of centraloffices (COs), one of which is designated at reference numeral 105,remote terminals (RTs) and/or serving area interfaces (SAIs). Theexample CO 105 of FIG. 1, and/or other COs, RTs and/or SAIs are used toprovide data and/or communication services to one or more customerpremises, three of which are designated at reference numerals 110, 111and 112. Example data and/or communication services include, but are notlimited to, telephone services, Internet services, data services,messaging services, instant messaging services, electronic mail (email)services, chat services, video services, audio services, gamingservices. To provide DSL communication services to the customer premises110-112, the example CO 105 of FIG. 1 includes any number and/or type(s)of DSL access multiplexers (DSLAMs) and/or video-ready access devices(VRADs), three of which are designated at reference numerals 115, 116and 117, and the example customer premises 110-112 include any type(s)of CPE DSL modems 120, 121 and 122. The example DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 ofFIG. 1 include and/or implement one or more CO DSL modems (not shown)for respective ones of the customer premises 110-112. The exampleDSLAMs/VRADs 115-117, the CO DSL modems within the DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117,and/or the example CPE DSL modems 120-122 of FIG. 1 may be implemented,for example, in accordance with the International TelecommunicationsUnion-Telecommunications Sector (ITU-T) G.993.x family of standards forvery high-speed DSL (VDSL), and/or the ITU-T G.992.x family of standardsfor asymmetric DSL (ADSL). However, the CO DSL modems and/or the CPE DSLmodems 120-122 may be implemented in accordance with any past, presentand/or future standard, specification and/or recommendation.

While in the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 areimplemented at the CO 105, any of the DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 may be,additionally or alternatively, implemented at an RT, at an SAI and/or atany other location between the CO 105 and the customer premises 110-112.In such instances, a fiber-optic cable (not shown) may be used, forexample, to communicatively couple the remotely located DSLAM/VRAD115-117 to the CO 105.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 1, the DSLAM 115 provides DSLservices to the CPE DSL modems 120-122 via respective subscriber lines125, 126, 127 and 128. Subscriber lines are sometimes also referred toin the industry as “wires,” “wire-pairs,” “subscriber loops” and/or“loops.” While throughout this disclosure reference is made to theexample loops 125-127 of FIG. 1, a loop (e.g., any of the example loops125-127) used to provide a DSL service to a customer-premises location(e.g., any of the locations 110-112) may include and/or be constructedfrom one or more segments of twisted-pair telephone wire (e.g., anycombination of a feeder one (F1) cable, a feeder two (F2) cable, afeeder three (F3) cable, a feeder four (F4) cable, a distribution cable,a drop cable, and/or customer-premises wiring), terminals, and/ordistributions points (e.g., an RT, an SAI, a serving terminal, a vault,a pedestal and/or any other type(s) of wiring distribution points). Suchsegments of twisted-pair telephone wire may be spliced and/or connectedend-to-end, and/or may be connected at only one end thereby creating oneor more bridged-taps. Regardless of the number, type(s), gauge(s) and/ortopology of twisted-pair telephone wires used to construct the exampleloops 125-128, they will be referred to herein in the singular form, butit will be understood that the term “loop” may refer to one or moretwisted-pair telephone wire segments and may include one or more bridgedtaps.

As commonly used in the industry, the term “network demarcation” denotesa location and/or device where cabling and/or equipment associated witha service provider (e.g., associated with the CO 105 and/or theDSLAMs/VRADs 115-117) is physically, electrically and/or communicativelycoupled to cabling and/or equipment associated with a customer premises,a subscriber, a user and/or a customer (e.g., any of the examplecustomer premises 110-112). Such subscriber cabling and/or equipment areoften owned by the customer but may, in some instances, be owned, leasedand/or otherwise provided by the service provider. Typically a networkdemarcation unit (e.g., a network interface device (NID) 130) is locatedat the network demarcation (e.g., on the outside of an exterior wall ofthe customer-premises 110) to implement the physical, electrical and/orcommunicative coupling between the subscriber and service provider sidesof the network demarcation. For instance, the example NID 130 of FIG. 1contains a first set of screw terminals and/or jacks 135 to couple theloop 125 to the NID 130, and contains a second set of screw terminalsand/or jacks 140 to couple subscriber cabling 145 to the NID 130. Theexample subscriber cabling 145 electrically couples the CPE DSL modem120 to the NID 130 and, thus, to the loop 125. Example NIDs 131 and 132likewise contain screw terminals and/or jacks as described for the NID130. In a conventional and/or traditional NID, such as the example NID132 of FIG. 1, a jumper and/or wire 137 electrically couples the twosets of cabling 127 and 146 across the NID 132.

To permit probing, interrogation, sensing and/or any other form(s) oftesting of the example loops 125 and 126 from the example CO 105, theexample NIDs 130 and 131 of FIG. 1 are enhanced NIDs (eNIDs). Theexample eNIDs 130 and 131 of FIG. 1 each include a switch 150 to allowthe loops 125 and 126 to be looped back at the eNIDs 130 and 131,respectively. The example switches 150 of FIG. 1 may be used toconfigure a loop back for an individual loop 125, 126 and/or toconfigure a loop back using an additional loop. In general, the type ofloop back realized by the example switches 150 at any particular eNID130, 131 depends on how conductors of the loops 125, 126 and 128 andconductors of the subscriber wiring 145 and 147 are connected torespective terminals of the example switches 150. The example switch 150of the example eNID 130 of FIG. 1 can be controlled, configured and/orpositioned to: a) electrically couple a first conductor of the exampleloop 125 to a second conductor of the loop 125, or b) electricallycouple the first and second conductors of the loop 125 to respectiveconductors of the subscriber wiring 145. The example switch 150 of theexample eNID 131 of FIG. 1 can be controlled, configured and/orpositioned to: a) electrically couple conductors of the example loop 126to respective conductors of another subscriber loop 128, or b)electrically couple the conductors of the loop 126 to respectiveconductors of subscriber wiring 147. In some examples, all NIDs 130-132within a geographic area are eNIDs. Additionally or alternatively, astatistically representative set of NIDS 130-132 within a geographicarea implement eNIDs. In such examples, test data collected using theassociated representative set of loops 125-128 can be used to infer,project and/or otherwise construe the ability of the geographic area asa whole to support the communication service.

To allow the example switches 150 to be remotely configurable and/orcontrollable, each of the example eNIDs 130 and 131 of FIG. 1 includes aswitch controller 152. The example switch controllers 152 of FIG. 1receive one or more values, parameters and/or signals from any type ofnetwork management server (NMS) 155 via the example DSLAM 115 and acorresponding loop 125, 126. The received values, parameters and/orsignals indicate to a particular switch controller 150 whether the eNID130, 131 associated with that switch controller 150 is to be configuredin a loop back state. In some examples, telemetry signals are used toprovide loop back state information to the switch controllers 150 viathe loops 125 and 126.

To test the ability of the loops 125-128 to support a communicationservice, the example DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 of FIG. 1 implement any numberand/or type(s) of line test modules, three of which are designated atreference numerals 160, 161 and 162. Using any number and/or type(s) ofdevice(s), component(s), transmitter(s), receiver(s), method(s),algorithm(s), rule(s), procedure(s) and/or logic, the example line testmodules 160-162 of FIG. 1 probe, interrogate, sense and/or otherwisetest the example loops 125-128 by, for example, sending and/or receivingone or more test signals on a looped back subscriber line 125-128. Basedon the transmitted and/or received test signal(s), the example testmodules 160-162 determine one or more test results, values and/orparameters that represent and/or characterize the loops 125-128 and/orthat represent and/or characterize the ability of the loops 125-128 tosupport a particular communication service. Example test results, valuesand/or parameters include, but are not limited to, a supportablecommunication service type, a supportable communication service datarate, a useable frequency band, whether bridged taps are present, looplengths, wire gauge(s), attenuation versus frequency data, amount ofnoise and/or interference that is present, etc.

To test, pre-qualify and/or otherwise determine whether a communicationservice could be reliably, efficiently and/or cost effectively providedto a user community at a desired level of customer satisfaction, theexample access network 100 of FIG. 1 includes a pre-qualification server165. As used herein the term “user community” refers to any plurality ofcustomer premises 110-112, persons, users and/or subscribers associatedwith a particular geographic area and/or associated with a particularcommunication distribution point. Example geographic areas include, butare not limited to, a neighborhood, a street, a telephone exchange, anarea code, a portion of a city, a city, a zip code, a postal code, acounty, a region, a country, and/or any combination thereof. Examplecommunication distribution points include, but are not limited to, aDSLAM/VRAD, a cable head end, a CO, an RT, a SAI, an intermediateoffice, a serving office, and/or any combination thereof.

The example pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 assesses the abilityof the example access network 100 to provide one or more communicationservices to a user community. For example, the example pre-qualificationserver 165 can be used to assess, estimate and/or otherwise analyzewhether it is feasible, reasonable and/or appropriate to beginmarketing, selling, promoting and/or deploying VDSL services to a usercommunity associated with the example CO 105. In particular, the examplepre-qualification server 165 assesses the ability of the example loops125-128 to support the VDSL services. The example pre-qualificationserver 165 of FIG. 1 assesses the loops 125-128 by: a) remotelycontrolling the eNIDs 130 and 131 into a loop-back state via the exampleNMS 155, and b) controlling the test modules 160 to test the loops 125and 126. The loops 125 and 126 may be tested sequentially and/or inparallel. The time(s) of day(s) at and/or during which testing isperformed may be selected a priori to minimize the interruptions ofexisting services and/or selected by sensing when an existing service isinactive and only performing testing during such inactive periods. Basedon the test results determined by the example test modules 160, theexample pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 generates apre-qualification report that represents, characterizes and/or reflectshow practical it is to deploy a particular communication service to theuser community, and/or a degree to which a particular communicationservice may be provided to and/or operated for the user community. Theexample pre-qualification server 165 compiles the test results frommultiple loops 125-128 to generate the pre-qualification report. In theillustrated example of FIG. 1, the generated pre-qualification report isprovided to a sales and/or marketing server and/or organization 170. Anexample pre-qualification test report is described below in connectionwith FIG. 2.

An example metric that may be used to represent the ability of a usercommunity to support a particular service (for example, a 50 Mbps VDSLservice) and/or represent a degree to which the service may be providedto and/or operator for the user community is the number and/orpercentage of the loops 125-128 that do not appear to be currently ableto support the service. That is, the number and/or percentage of loops125-128 that have exceptions, which may currently preclude deployment ofthe communication service. For example, if less than 10 percent (%) ofthe loops 125-128 would require maintenance and/or repair (for example,to remove bridge taps and/or to reduce interference noise), marketingand/or sales organizations can widely market, sell and/or promote theservice to the user community. If between 10% and 30% of the loops125-128 may require maintenance and/or repair, the service can bemarketed, sold and/or promoted on a limited basis depending on theavailability of adequate numbers of service technicians to diagnoseand/or troubleshoot service problems that arise during installationsand/or in response to customer calls. When more than 30% of the loops125-128 may require maintenance and/or repair, it may be more costeffective to delay marketing, selling and/or promoting the service untiladequate remediation of the loop plant is performed. If such loop plantremediation is not performed up front, customer satisfaction and/orrevenues may be negatively impacted. An example process that may becarried out to pre-qualify a user community for a community service isdescribed below in connection with FIG. 5.

The device(s), component(s), transmitter(s), receiver(s), method(s),algorithm(s), rule(s), procedure(s) and/or logic implemented by theexample test modules 160-162 of FIG. 1 to test, characterize and/orpre-qualify the loops 125-128 for a communication service can beprogressively improved as the communication service is installed fordifferent user communities. For example, pre-qualification test resultsdetermined for a first user community can be compared with actualinstallation experiences for the first user community to identifyenhancements, refinements and/or improvements to the pre-qualificationprocess(es) implemented by the example pre-qualification server 165 andthe test modules 160-162 to pre-qualify one or more loops associatedwith a second user community for the communication service. For example,if it was empirically observed that more loops of the first usercommunity were unable to support the communication service than thenumber estimated by the example pre-qualification server 165, one ormore threshold(s), method(s), algorithm(s), rule(s), procedure(s) and/orlogic used by the example test modules 160-162 can be modified and/oradjusted accordingly.

In addition to or alternative to the automated testing and/orpre-qualification of a user community for a communication servicedescribed above, the example pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 caninteract with and/or utilize a user, customer and/or subscriber 175 toassess whether it is feasible to install and/or deploy a particularcommunication service for that user 175. While such testing is performedresponsive to individual users 175, the results of such testing can becombined with a) testing performed for and/or by other individual users175 and/or b) automated testing results to pre-qualify a user communityat large for the service.

The example user 175 of FIG. 1 may learn about and/or be notified of newand/or upgraded communication service(s) via any number and/or type(s)of means. For example, the user 175 may be receive a flyer via postalmail, may receive an email, and/or be presented with a webpage. Suchnotifications can present information (e.g., cost, features, etc.)regarding the new and/or upgraded communication service(s), provideinformation regarding how the user 175 can learn more about the newand/or upgraded communication service(s), and/or provide informationregarding how to test or assess whether they are able to receive the newand/or upgraded communication service(s) at their respective customerpremises 112. In response to any such notification(s), the example user175 of FIG. 1 downloads and installs evaluation software 180 on any typeof personal computer (PC) 185 that is communicatively coupled to theirrespective CPE DSL modem 122. The example evaluation software 180 ofFIG. 1 may be downloaded from, for example, the pre-qualification server165 via the VRAD 116, the loop 127 and the CPE DSL modem 122. In someexamples, the example evaluation software 180 is implemented with aweb-based graphical user interface (GUI), and implements one or moreweb-based application programming interfaces (APIs) to interact with theCPE DSL modem 122 and/or the example pre-qualification server 165.

When execution of the evaluation software 180 is activated and/orstarted on the example PC 185, the example evaluation software 180 ofFIG. 1 collects from the pre-qualification server 165 information (e.g.,cost, features, etc.) regarding the new and/or upgraded communicationservice(s) and presents the collected information to the user 175 via,for example, a web-based GUI. The presented web-based GUI includes oneor more user interface elements, such as buttons, check boxes, menus,etc., which allow the user 175 to indicate and/or provide permission forthe CPE DSL modem 122 and the example pre-qualification server 165 to:a) temporarily interrupt one or more existing services present on theloop 127 and to test the loop 127, and b) determine whether the loop 127is capable to support the new and/or upgraded communication service(s).

After receiving permission from the user 175, the example evaluationsoftware 180 of FIG. 1 activates a test module implemented by theexample CPE DSL modem 190. Using any number and/or type(s) of device(s),component(s), transmitter(s), receiver(s), method(s), algorithm(s),rule(s), procedure(s) and/or logic, the example test module 190 of FIG.1 probes, interrogates, senses and/or otherwise tests the example loop127 by, for example, exchanging one or more test signals with theexample test module 161 via the loop 127. Based on the exchanged testsignal(s), the example test module 161 and/or the example test module190 determine one or more test results, values and/or parameters thatrepresent and/or characterize the loop 127 and/or that represent and/orcharacterize the ability of the loop 127 to support one or morecommunication services. Example test results, values and/or parametersinclude, but are not limited to, an estimated data rate, a useablefrequency band, whether bridged taps are present, loop lengths, wiregauge(s), attenuation versus frequency data, amount of noise and/orinterference that is present, etc.

When testing of the loop 127 is completed, the example evaluationsoftware 180 of FIG. 1 restores the previous configuration of theexample CPE DSL modem 122 to restore any existing communicationservice(s) that were interrupted by the testing of the loop 127. Theexample evaluation software 180 presents one or more results of thetesting to the user 175 via, for example, a web-based GUI. Examplepresented results include, but are not limited to, an indication ofwhether the new and/or upgraded communication service(s) can besupported by the loop 127 and, if supported, how the user 175 canrequest and/or make further inquiry about the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s). In some examples, the presented resultsinclude a uniform resource link (URL) that allows the user to proceed toa customer service and/or order entry website, which allows the user 175to request activation and/or installation of the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s). The presented web-based GUI also includes oneor more user interface elements, such as buttons, check boxes, menus,etc., which prompt the user 175 to indicate and/or provide howinterested they are in subscribing to the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s). Service interest information collected by theevaluation software 180 from the user 175 is provided to thepre-qualification server 165 via, for example, the CPE DSL modem 122,the loop 127 and the VRAD 116.

Based on the testing performed on the loop 127 and/or the collectedinterest information, the example pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1generates a customer premises evaluation report that includes one ormore results of the testing and/or the interest level provided by theuser 175. An example user evaluation report is described below inconnection with FIG. 3. Based on the example test, the examplepre-qualification server 165 also updates a market analysis reportand/or a pre-qualification test report. An example market analysisreport is described below in connection with FIG. 4.

While an example access network 100 has been illustrated in FIG. 1, oneor more of the interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/ordevices illustrated in FIG. 1 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, theexample line test modules 160-162, the example pre-qualification server165, the example evaluation software 180, and/or the example test module190 of FIG. 1 may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/orany combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, forexample, any of the example line test modules 160-162, the examplepre-qualification server 165, the example evaluation software 180,and/or the example test module 190 may be implemented by one or moredevice(s), circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specificintegrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s))and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), etc. Further still,an access network may include interfaces, data structures, elements,processes and/or devices instead of, or in addition to, thoseillustrated in FIG. 1 and/or may include more than one of any or all ofthe illustrated interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/ordevices.

While an example manner of implementing the example eNIDs 130 and 131are illustrated in FIG. 1, one or more of the elements, processes,interfaces and/or devices illustrated in connection with the exampleeNIDs 130 and/or 131 FIG. 1 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any way. Further, the exampleswitches 150, the example switch controllers 152 and/or, more generally,the example eNIDs 130 and 131 of FIG. 1 may be implemented by hardware,software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/orfirmware. Thus, for example, any or all of the example switches 150, theexample switch controllers 152 and/or, more generally, the example eNIDs130 and 131 may be implemented by one or more circuit(s), programmableprocessor(s), ASIC(s), PLD(s) and/or FPLD(s), etc. Further still, aneNID may include one or more elements, processes, interfaces and/ordevices in addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 1,and/or may include more than one of any or all of the illustratedelements, processes, interfaces and devices.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example pre-qualification test report 200. Toidentify a marketing area, the example pre-qualification test report 200of FIG. 2 includes a marketing area identifier field 205. The examplemarketing area identifier field 205 of FIG. 2 contains one or morevalues, letters and/or strings that uniquely identify a particularmarketing area, such as a neighborhood, a street, a telephone exchange,an area code, a portion of a city, a city, a zip code, a postal code, acounty, a region, a country, and/or any combination thereof.

The example pre-qualification test report 200 of FIG. 2 includes aplurality of entries 210 for respective combinations of communicationservices and DSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 that are located within the marketingarea identified by the field 205, and which were analyzed by the examplepre-qualification server 165. To identify a DSLAM/VRAD 115-117, each ofthe example entries 210 of FIG. 2 includes a DSLAM/VRAD identifier field215. Each of the example DSLAM/VRAD identifier fields 215 of FIG. 2contains one or more values, letters and/or strings that uniquelyidentify a particular DSLAM/VRAD 115-117.

To identify a particular type and/or speed of communication service(e.g., 25 Million bits per second (Mbps) VDSL service), each of theexample entries 210 of FIG. 2 includes a service field 220. Each of theexample service fields 220 of FIG. 2 contains one or more values,letters and/or strings that uniquely identify a particular service thatwas analyzed. To store the number and/or percentage of loops 125-128that may not currently be able to support the service 220, each of theexample entries 210 of FIG. 2 includes an exception field 225. Theexample exception field 225 of FIG. 2 contains a number that representsthe percentage of loops 125-128 associated with the DSLAM/VRAD 115-117identified in the field 215 that may require maintenance and/or repairbefore the corresponding service 220 can be reliably deployed.

While an example pre-qualification test report 200 that may be generatedby the example pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 is illustrated inFIG. 2, the example pre-qualification test report 200 may be implementedusing any number and/or type(s) of other and/or additional entries,fields and/or data. Further, the entries, fields and/or data illustratedin FIG. 2 may be combined, divided, re-arranged, eliminated and/orimplemented in any way. Further still, the pre-qualification test report200 may include entries, fields and/or data in addition to, or insteadof, those illustrated in FIG. 2, and/or may include more than one of anyor all of the illustrated entries, fields and/or data.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example customer premises evaluation report 300that may be generated by the example pre-qualification server 165 ofFIG. 1. To identify a particular customer premises, the example customerpremises evaluation report 300 contains a customer identifier field 305.The example customer identifier field 305 of FIG. 3 contains one or morevalues, letters and/or strings that uniquely identify a particularsubscriber and/or customer premises.

To identify a marketing area associated with the customer premises 305,the example customer premises evaluation report 300 of FIG. 3 includes amarketing area identifier field 310. The example marketing areaidentifier field 310 of FIG. 3 contains one or more values, lettersand/or strings that uniquely identify a particular marketing area, suchas a neighborhood, a street, a telephone exchange, an area code, aportion of a city, a city, a zip code, a postal code, a county, aregion, a country, and/or any combination thereof.

To identify a DSLAM/VRAD 115-117 associated with the customer premises305, the example customer premises evaluation report 300 of FIG. 3includes a DSLAM/VRAD identifier field 315. The example DSLAM/VRADidentifier field 315 of FIG. 3 contains one or more values, lettersand/or strings that uniquely identify a particular DSLAM/VRAD 115-117.To identify an existing communication service associated with thecustomer premises 305, the example customer premises evaluation report300 of FIG. 3 includes an existing service field 320. The exampleexisting service field 320 of FIG. 3 contains one or more values,letters and/or strings that uniquely identify a particular servicecurrently being provided to the customer premises 305.

To identify possible communication service(s), the example customerpremises evaluation report 300 of FIG. 3 includes a possible servicefield 325. The example possible service field 325 of FIG. 3 contains oneor more values, letters and/or strings that uniquely identify one ormore communication services that have been identified as beingdeployable to the customer premises 305. To store interest information,the example customer premises evaluation report 300 of FIG. 3 includesan interest field 330. The example interest field 330 of FIG. 3 containsone or more numbers that respectively represent how interested a userassociated with the customer premises 305 is in subscribing to each ofthe services 325.

While an example customer premises evaluation report 300 that may begenerated by the example pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 isillustrated in FIG. 3, the example customer premises evaluation report300 may be implemented using any number and/or type(s) of other and/oradditional entries, fields and/or data. Further, the entries, fieldsand/or data illustrated in FIG. 3 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,eliminated and/or implemented in any way. Further still, the customerpremises evaluation report 300 may include entries, fields and/or datain addition to, or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 3, and/or mayinclude more than one of any or all of the illustrated entries, fieldsand/or data.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example market analysis report 400. To identify amarketing area, the example pre-qualification test report 400 of FIG. 4includes a marketing area identifier field 405. The example marketingarea identifier field 405 of FIG. 4 contains one or more values, lettersand/or strings that uniquely identify a particular marketing area, suchas a neighborhood, a street, a telephone exchange, an area code, aportion of a city, a city, a zip code, a postal code, a county, aregion, a country, and/or any combination thereof.

The example market analysis report 400 of FIG. 4 includes a plurality ofentries 410 for respective combinations of communication services andDSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 that are located within the marketing areaidentified by the field 405, and which were analyzed by the examplepre-qualification server 165. To identify a DSLAM/VRAD 115-117, each ofthe example entries 410 of FIG. 4 includes a DSLAM/VRAD identifier field415. Each of the example DSLAM/VRAD identifier fields 415 of FIG. 4contains one or more values, letters and/or strings that uniquelyidentify a particular DSLAM/VRAD 115-117.

To identify a particular type and/or speed of communication service(e.g., 25 Million bits per second (Mbps) VDSL service), each of theexample entries 410 of FIG. 4 includes a service field 420. Each of theexample service fields 420 of FIG. 4 contains one or more values,letters and/or strings that uniquely identify a particular service thatwas analyzed. To store the number loops 125-128 that are able to supportthe service 420, each of the example entries 410 of FIG. 4 includes anumber of upgrades field 425. The example number of upgrades field 425of FIG. 4 contains a number that represents the number of loops thathave been tested as capable of supporting the service 420. To storeinterest information, each of the example entries 410 of FIG. 4 includesan interest field 430. Each of the example interest fields 430 of FIG. 4contains a number that collectively represents how interested a usercommunity associated with the example DSLAM/VRAD 415 is in subscribingto the service 420.

While an example market analysis report 400 that may be generated by theexample pre-qualification server 165 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 4,the example market analysis report 400 may be implemented using anynumber and/or type(s) of other and/or additional entries, fields and/ordata. For example, the example pre-qualification test report 200 may becombined with the example marketing analysis report 400 to form a reportthat collectively represents a number of upgradeable loops, a percentageof exceptions and subscriber interest information for each combinationof DSLAM/VRAD and communication service. Further, the entries, fieldsand/or data illustrated in FIG. 4 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,eliminated and/or implemented in any way. Further still, the marketanalysis report 400 may include entries, fields and/or data in additionto, or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 4, and/or may include morethan one of any or all of the illustrated entries, fields and/or data.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts representative of example processes thatmay be carried out to implement the example pre-qualification server 165of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart representative of an example processthat may be carried out to implement the example evaluation software 180of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a flowchart representative of an example processthat may be carried out by, for example, the user 175, to test a loop125-128 for a communication service.

The example processes of FIGS. 5-7 may be carried out by a processor, acontroller and/or any other suitable processing device. For example, theexample processes of FIGS. 5-7 may be embodied in coded instructionsstored on any tangible computer-readable medium such as a flash memory,a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, aread-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a programmable ROM(PROM), an electronically-programmable ROM (EPROM), and/or anelectronically-erasable PROM (EEPROM), an optical storage disk, anoptical storage device, magnetic storage disk, a magnetic storagedevice, and/or any other medium which can be used to carry or storeprogram code and/or instructions in the form of machine-accessibleinstructions or data structures, and which can be accessed by aprocessor, a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or othermachine with a processor (e.g., the example processor platform P100discussed below in connection with FIG. 9). Combinations of the aboveare also included within the scope of computer-readable media.Machine-accessible instructions comprise, for example, instructionsand/or data that cause a processor, a general-purpose computer,special-purpose computer, or a special-purpose processing machine toimplement one or more particular processes. Alternatively, some or allof the example processes of FIGS. 5-7 may be implemented using anycombination(s) of ASIC(s), PLD(s), FPLD(s), discrete logic, hardware,firmware, etc. Also, some or all of the example processes of FIGS. 5-7may instead be implemented manually or as any combination of any of theforegoing techniques, for example, any combination of firmware,software, discrete logic and/or hardware. Further, many other methods ofimplementing the example operations of FIGS. 5-8 may be employed. Forexample, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed, and/or oneor more of the blocks described may be changed, eliminated, sub-divided,or combined. Additionally, any or all of the example processes of FIGS.5-8 may be carried out sequentially and/or carried out in parallel by,for example, separate processing threads, processors, devices, discretelogic, circuits, etc.

The example process of FIG. 5 begins with the example pre-qualificationserver 165 of FIG. 1 remotely controlling an eNID associated with apresently considered loop (e.g., the example eNID 130 associated withthe loop 125) into a loop back state via the NMS 155 (block 505). Thepre-qualification server 165 directs a line test module 160-162associated with the presently considered loop to interrogate and/or testthe loop (block 510). When testing is complete, the line test module160-162 and/or the pre-qualification server 165 determine whether thepresently considered loop is an exception relative to a communicationservice being tested (block 515). That is, the line test module 160-162and/or the pre-qualification server 165 determine whether the loop isable to support the communication service.

Based on the test results, the pre-qualification server 165 updates apre-qualification test report, such as the example pre-qualificationtest report 200 of FIG. 2 (block 520). The pre-qualification server 165controls the eNID out of the loop back state via the NMS 155 (block525).

If there are more loops associated with a presently consideredDSLAM/VRAD 115-117 to test (block 530), control returns to block 505 totest the next loop. If there are no more loops associated with thepresently considered DSLAM/VRAD 115-117 to test (block 530), thepre-qualification server 165 determines whether there are moreDSLAMs/VRADs 115-117 to test (block 535). If there are more DSLAMs/VRADs115-117 to test (block 535), control returns to block 505 to starttesting the next DSLAM/VRAD 115-117. If there are no more DSLAMs/VRADs115-117 to test (block 535), control exits from the example process ofFIG. 5.

The example process of FIG. 6 begins with the example pre-qualificationserver 165 and/or the example marketing/sales marketing server and/ororganization 170 of FIG. 1 providing a notice regarding new and/orupgraded communication service(s) to a user 175 associated with aparticular customer premises 110-112 (block 605). If the user 175responds to the notification with an interest in and/or permission totest their associated loop 125-128 for the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s) (block 610), the pre-qualification server 165provides the example evaluation software 180 of FIG. 1 to the user 175(block 615). Responsive to initiation of the evaluation software 180 bythe user 175, the example pre-qualification server 165, the example linetest module 160-162 and the example test module 190 of FIG. 1 test theuser's loop 125-128 for the communication service(s) (block 620). Whentesting is complete, the line test module 160-162, the test module 190and/or the pre-qualification server 165 determine whether the presentlyconsidered loop 125-128 is able to support the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s) being tested (block 625).

The pre-qualification server 165 provides results of the testing and/orinformation regarding supportable new and/or upgraded communicationservice(s) to the user 175 via the evaluation software 180 (block 630).The pre-qualification server 165 collects information regarding theuser's interest in the new and/or upgraded communication service(s) viathe evaluation software 180 (block 635). The pre-qualification server165 creates a customer premises evaluation report, such as the examplecustomer premises evaluation report 300 of FIG. 3 (block 640), andupdates a market analysis report, such as the example market analysisreport 400 of FIG. 4 (block 645). Control then exits from the exampleprocess of FIG. 6.

Returning to block 610, if the user did not express an interest inand/or provide permission to test their associated loop 125-128 (block610), control exits from the example process of FIG. 6.

The example process of FIG. 7 begins with the example evaluationsoftware 180 initializing one or more of its internal variables,parameters and/or states (block 705). The evaluation software 180provides information regarding the test(s) to be performed via, forexample, a web-based GUI (block 710), and prompts the example user 175for permission to begin the test(s) (block 715). If permission isreceived (block 720), the evaluation software 180 controls the exampletest module 190 of the example CPE DSL modem 122 associated with theevaluation software 180 to begin testing of the loop 125-128 (block725).

When testing is complete (block 730), the evaluation software 180collects and displays test results and/or information regardingsupportable new and/or upgraded communication service(s) for the user175 (block 735). The evaluation software 180 collects from the user 175information regarding their interest in the new and/or upgradedcommunication service(s) (block 740), and reports the collected interestinformation to the example pre-qualification server 165 (block 745). Theevaluation software 180 controls the CPE DSL modem 122 to return to itsprevious setting(s) and/or configuration to restore any interruptedservice(s) (block 750). Control then exits from the example process ofFIG. 7.

Returning to block 720, if the user does not provide permission to testthe loop 125-128 (block 720), control exits from the example process ofFIG. 7 without testing the user's loop 125-128.

The example process of FIG. 8 begins with the example user 175 of FIG. 1receiving a notification regarding new and/or upgraded communicationservice(s) (block 805). If the user 175 is interested in testing theirassociated loop 125-128 for the new and/or upgraded communicationservice(s) (block 810), the user 175 downloads and/or installs theevaluation software 180 on the PC 185 communicatively coupled to theirCPE DSL modem 120-122 (block 815). The user 175 starts execution of theevaluation software 180 (block 820).

If the user 175 provides permission to test their associated loop125-128 (block 825), the user 175 reviews one or more test results whentesting is complete (block 830). The user 175 also reviews informationregarding the new and/or upgraded communication service(s) (block 835).When prompted, the user 175 provides one or more indications of interestin the new and/or upgraded communication service(s) (block 840). Theexample process of FIG. 8 is then ended.

Returning to block 825, if the user 175 does not provide permission totest their associated loop 125-128 (block 825), the example process ofFIG. 8 is ended without testing the loop 125-128.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an example processor platform P100 thatmay be used and/or programmed to implement the example DSLAMs/VRADs115-117, the example CPE DSL modems 120-122, the example eNIDs 130 and131, the example switch controllers 152, the example NMS 155, theexample pre-qualification server 165, the example test modules 160-162and 190, the example evaluation software 180 and/or the example personalcomputer 185. For example, the processor platform P100 can beimplemented by one or more general-purpose processors, processor cores,microcontrollers, etc.

The processor platform P100 of the example of FIG. 9 includes at leastone general purpose programmable processor P105. The processor P105executes coded instructions P110 and/or P112 present in main memory ofthe processor P105 (e.g., within a RAM P115 and/or a ROM P120). Theprocessor P105 may be any type of processing unit, such as a processorcore, a processor and/or a microcontroller. The processor P105 mayexecute, among other things, the example processes of FIGS. 5-7 toimplement the example methods and apparatus described herein.

The processor P105 is in communication with the main memory (including aROM P120 and/or the RAM P115) via a bus P125. The RAM P115 may beimplemented by DRAM, SDRAM, and/or any other type of RAM device, and ROMmay be implemented by flash memory and/or any other desired type ofmemory device. Access to the memory P115 and the memory P120 may becontrolled by a memory controller (not shown). One or both of theexample memories P115 and P120 may be used to store the examplepre-qualification test report 200, the example customer premisesevaluation report 300 and/or the example market analysis report 400.

The processor platform P100 also includes an interface circuit P130. Theinterface circuit P130 may be implemented by any type of interfacestandard, such as an external memory interface, serial port,general-purpose input/output, etc. One or more input devices P135 andone or more output devices P140 are connected to the interface circuitP130. The input devices P135 and/or output devices P140 may be used to,for example, transmit and/or receive test signals, to receive switch 150control information and/or to control the switches 150. Although certainexample methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have beendescribed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limitedthereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus andarticles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appendedclaims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sensing serviceactivity status for a first loop and a second loop; configuring a firstremote network demarcation associated with a first customer premises andwith the first loop to a loop-back state when the service activitystatus indicates an inactive status associated with the service on thefirst loop; interrogating the first loop to determine a first parameterrepresentative of the first loop when the service activity statusindicates the inactive status, and preventing interrogation of the firstloop when the service activity status indicates activity; configuring asecond remote network demarcation associated with a second customerpremises and with the second loop to the loop-back state when theservice activity status indicates an inactive status is associated withthe service on the second loop; interrogating the second loop todetermine a second parameter representative of the second loop, andpreventing interrogation of the second loop when the service activitystatus indicates activity on the second loop; and marketing the serviceto a user community when a plurality of the first and second parametersindicate fewer than a threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance, and preventing marketing of the service to the usercommunity when the plurality of the first and second parameters indicategreater than the threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein interrogatingthe first loop includes at least one of transmitting a first signal onthe first loop, or receiving a second signal on the first loop.
 3. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein interrogating the first loop todetermine the first parameter includes determining whether the firstloop meets a criterion associated with the communication service, andincrementing an exception count when the first loop fails to meet thecriterion.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the thresholdincludes a value representing a percentage of loops of the usercommunity that may fail to meet a criterion associated with thecommunication service.
 5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein thepercentage is estimated based on interrogations performed on arepresentative set of loops associated with the user community.
 6. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein configuring the first networkdemarcation to the loop-back state includes remotely configuring aswitch at the first network demarcation to electrically couple a firstconductor of the first loop to a second conductor of the first loop. 7.A method as defined in claim 1, wherein configuring the first networkdemarcation to the loop-back state includes remotely configuring aswitch at the first network demarcation to electrically couple a firstconductor of the first loop to a second conductor of a third loop, andinterrogating the first loop includes transmitting a first signal on thefirst loop and receiving a second signal on the third loop.
 8. A methodas defined in claim 1, wherein the first parameter represents at leastone of a supportable communication service type, a supportablecommunication service data rate, a useable frequency band, whether abridged tap is present, a loop length, a wire gauge, attenuation versusfrequency data, an amount of noise that is present, or an amount ofinterference that is present.
 9. A method as defined in claim 1, whereinthe first parameter represents a condition of the first loop thatprevents the first loop from supporting the communication service.
 10. Amethod as defined in claim 1, further including a communicationdistribution point of a user community including at least one of adigital subscriber line access multiplexer, a video-ready access device,a remote terminal, a serving area interface, a central office, a servingoffice, an intermediate office, or a cable modem head end.
 11. A methodas defined in claim 1, further including a geographic area of a usercommunity, the area including at least one of a street, a neighborhood,a portion of a city, a city, a county, a state, a country, a zip code, apostal code, a telephone exchange, or an area code.
 12. A systemcomprising: a first test module to (1) sense a service activity statusfor a first subscriber line, (2) to interrogate the first subscriberline when the service activity status is an inactive status to determinea first parameter representative of the first subscriber line, and (3)to prevent interrogation of the first subscriber line when the serviceactivity status indicates activity, the first subscriber line associatedwith a first customer premises having a first demarcation point; asecond test module to (1) sense a second service activity status for asecond subscriber line, (2) to interrogate the second subscriber linewhen the second service activity status is an inactive status todetermine a second parameter representative of the second subscriberline, and (3) to prevent interrogation of the second subscriber linewhen the second service activity status indicates activity, the secondsubscriber line associated with a second customer premises having asecond demarcation point; and a pre-qualification server to: configurethe first network demarcation point associated with the first subscriberline to a loop-back state in response to the first service activitystatus indicating the inactive status on the first subscriber line;configure the second network demarcation point associated with thesecond subscriber line to the loop-back state in response to the secondservice activity status indicating the inactive status on the secondsubscriber line; approve a marketing effort of the service to a usercommunity when a plurality of the first and second parameters indicatefewer than a threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance; and delay the marketing effort of the service to the usercommunity when the plurality of the first and second parameters indicategreater than the threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance.
 13. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the firstnetwork demarcation point includes: a switch having first and secondpositions, when the switch is in the first position the switch is tocommunicatively couple a first conductor of the first subscriber line toa second conductor of the first subscriber line; and a switch controllerresponsive to the pre-qualification server to control the position ofthe switch.
 14. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the firstnetwork demarcation point includes: a switch having first and secondpositions, when the switch is in the first position the switch is tocouple a first conductor of the first subscriber line to a secondconductor of a third subscriber line; and a switch controller responsiveto the pre-qualification server to control the position of the switch.15. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the first parameterrepresents a condition of the first subscriber line that prevents thefirst subscriber line from supporting the communication service.
 16. Asystem as defined in claim 12, wherein the communication distributionpoint includes at least one of a digital subscriber line accessmultiplexer, a video-ready access device, a remote terminal, a servingarea interface, a central office, a serving office, an intermediateoffice, or a cable modem head end.
 17. A machine readable storage devicecomprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to performoperations comprising: sensing service activity status for a first loopand a second loop; configuring a first remote network demarcationassociated with a first customer premises and with the first loop to aloop-back state when the service activity status indicates an inactivestatus associated with the service on the first loop; interrogating thefirst loop to determine a first parameter representative of the firstloop when the service activity status indicates the inactive status, andpreventing interrogation of the first loop when the service activitystatus indicates activity; configuring a second remote networkdemarcation associated with a second customer premises and with thesecond loop to the loop-back state when the service activity statusindicates an inactive status is associated with the service on thesecond loop; interrogating the second loop to determine a secondparameter representative of the second loop, and preventinginterrogation of the second loop when the service activity statusindicates activity on the second loop; and marketing the service to auser community when a plurality of the first and second parametersindicate fewer than a threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance, and preventing marketing of the service to the usercommunity when the plurality of the first and second parameters indicategreater than the threshold number of first and second loops requiremaintenance.
 18. The machine-readable storage device as defined in claim17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the machine todetermine the first parameter by at least determining whether the firstloop meets a criterion associated with the communication service, andincrementing an exception count when the first loop fails to meet thecriterion.
 19. The machine-readable storage device as defined in claim17, wherein the threshold includes a value representing a percentage ofloops of the user community that may fail to meet a criterion associatedwith the communication service.
 20. The machine-readable storage deviceas defined in claim 19, wherein the percentage is estimated based oninterrogations performed on a representative set of loops associatedwith the user community.